The Polish Scouting And Guiding Association (zhp)

What The Polish Scouting And Guiding Association (zhp) does

The Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego, ZHP) is a non-profit civic association (stowarzyszenie) founded in 1918 and headquartered at ul. Konopnickiej 6, Warsaw. It is the largest scouting organization in Poland, with over 115,000 members organized into 16 regional branches (chorągwie) covering all Polish voivodeships, and operates the specialized Nieprzetarty Szlak inclusion program serving nearly 4,500 children and youth with disabilities.

ZHP's core product is a structured scouting educational methodology (Harcerski System Wychowawczy) combined with the System Instrumentów Metodycznych — a proprietary framework of badges (sprawności), proficiency marks, ranks, trails, and thematic paths tailored to age groups: zuchy (6-9), harcerze (10-13), harcerze starsi (13-16), wędrownicy (15-21), akademicy, seniors (55+), and Nieprzetarty Szlak members. Delivery runs through local drużyny, gromady, and zastępy, supported by 12,000 volunteer instructors trained via the Central Instructor School. The digital stack is conventional: a WordPress-based zhp.pl website, a Microsoft Office 365 / SharePoint infrastructure including the Główna Kwatera intranet, the Centralna Szkoła Instruktorska platform, and the Centralny Bank Pomysłów (cbp.zhp.pl).

The business model is non-commercial. Revenue comes from annual membership dues (składki), government co-funding via the Narodowy Instytut Wolności under the Government Program for Development of Scouting Organizations, individual and institutional donations (a public donation account is listed), and event participation fees. ZHP also hosts international events, most notably the 26th World Scout Jamboree in Gdańsk (30 July – 8 August 2027), expected to draw over 50,000 scouts from 176 countries. The organization holds memberships in WAGGGS and WOSM, is patronized by the President of the Republic of Poland, and operates specialized facilities including the Maritime Training Center in Puck and the S/y Zawisza Czarny training ship.

Name

The Polish Scouting And Guiding Association (zhp)

Legal name

Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego

Website

https://www.zhp.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego, ZHP) is a 1918-founded non-profit civic association serving over 115,000 Polish youth aged 6-21 (plus seniors and disabled youth) through a structured scouting methodology, 16 regional branches, and 12,000 volunteer instructors, hosting the 2027 World Scout Jamboree in Gdańsk.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development & Scouting Education

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

Keywords

• Youth scouting programs
• Character education
• Outdoor adventure camps
• Leadership development
• Volunteer youth organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Warsaw

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues / Składki: Members pay annual membership dues (składki) to participate in ZHP. These fees support the organization's operations, local units, and regional branches. Specific pricing tiers are set by the organization but not publicly disclosed on the main website.
2. Government grants and subsidies: ZHP receives co-funding from the Narodowy Instytut Wolności - Centrum Rozwoju Społeczeństwa Obywatelskiego (National Freedom Institute) as part of the Government Program for Development of Scouting Organizations. Additional support comes from the Government Program Wspieranie Rozwoju Organizacji Harcerskich i Skautowych.
3. Donations and charitable contributions: ZHP accepts donations from individuals and organizations. A dedicated bank account for donations is listed on the website (22 1140 1010 0000 5392 2900 1017). Partnerships with UNICEF and WWF support specific social and environmental programs.
4. Event fees and activity charges: Fees charged for participation in events such as the Jamboree, Centralna Akcja Szkoleniowa, Zlot Harcerski, and other national gatherings. For example, the Scout Camp for the 82nd Warsaw Uprising anniversary charged 50 PLN per person.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ZHP is a non-profit civic association delivering structured scouting and character education to children, youth, and young adults in Poland through a proprietary age-segmented methodology. Members join local troops (gromady, drużyny) where they progress through ranks, earn badges (sprawności), and participate in outdoor adventures, summer camps, community service, and international exchanges. The organization funds operations through annual membership dues (składki), Polish government grants via Narodowy Instytut Wolności, and public donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual ZHP Membership (Składki członkowskie)
• Nieprzetarty Szlak (Untrodden Path) Program
• Summer Adventure Camps and Outings
• Centralna Szkoła Instruktorska (Central Instructor School)
• Harcerski Ośrodek Morski w Pucku (Maritime Training Center)
• 26th World Scout Jamboree 2027 (Gdańsk)
• S/y Zawisza Czarny Sailing Voyages
• Muzeum Harcerstwa (Scouting Museum)

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of surveyed parents would recommend ZHP to other parents (Harcerski Instytut Badawczy, 2022)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Kancelaria Senatu RP (Senate Chancellery of Poland)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026ZHP signed a cooperation agreement with the Senate Chancellery and the Chief Directorate of State Archives for the 'Młody Badacz. Archiwa Przełomu 1989–1991' (Young Researcher: Archives of the 1989–1991 Transition) project. The partnership aims to preserve, collect, and make accessible testimonies from Poland's democratic transition period, with ZHP engaging young people across the country to document local histories and interview witnesses.
• Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Państwowych (Chief Directorate of State Archives)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Joint partner with the Senate Chancellery in the 'Młody Badacz. Archiwa Przełomu 1989–1991' project. The Chief Directorate will receive and preserve historical materials collected by ZHP members, and will create a dedicated digital collection 'Archiwa Przełomu 1989–1991' in the Szukaj w Archiwach portal.
• WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZHP is a member organization of WAGGGS and participates in triennial World Conferences, European Regional conferences, and international program initiatives such as 'Surf Smart' and 'Dobrze być sobą' (Good to Be Yourself). ZHP representatives hold positions in WAGGGS committees and have received international recognition (Medals of Thanks) from the organization.
• WOSM (World Organization of the Scout Movement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZHP is a member of WOSM and serves as the host organization for the 26th World Scout Jamboree in 2027 in Gdańsk — the first time Jamboree is held in Poland. WOSM organizes Jamboree every four years for 14-17 year-old scouts from around the world.
• UNICEF PolskamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZHP maintains a partnership with UNICEF Poland as part of its social responsibility and international cooperation. The partnership is listed among ZHP's official partner organizations.
• WWF PolskaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZHP partners with WWF Poland, likely on environmental education and nature protection initiatives aligned with ZHP's outdoor and ecological programs.
• KIG (Krajowa Izba Gospodarcza / Polish Chamber of Commerce)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZHP partners with the Polish Chamber of Commerce as part of its network of institutional partners supporting the organization's mission and programs.
• Lasy Państwowe (Polish State Forests)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZHP collaborates with the Polish State Forests, likely supporting access to forest areas for outdoor training, camps, and environmental education programs.
• Fundacja Dajemy Dzieciom Siłę (We Give Children Strength Foundation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZHP partners with FDDS (an organization working to protect children from violence) on child safety and abuse prevention. ZHP's 'Bezpieczeństwo dzieci w ZHP' (Safe from Harm) program is conducted in collaboration with FDDS, including conferences and training for instructors on child protection.
• Makro PolskaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMakro Polska (a wholesale distributor) is listed as a ZHP partner, likely supporting logistics and supplies for ZHP camps and events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Girl Scouts of the USA: The largest girl-focused youth organization in the US, with comparable badge-driven programming, troop structures, and outdoor activities. Directly comparable to ZHP's girl-guiding wing under the WAGGGS umbrella.
• Scouts Canada: Canada's national scouting organization offering age-based sections, badges, and outdoor programming. A direct WOSM member peer with comparable volunteer-driven delivery model.
• The Scout Association (UK): The national scouting organization of the United Kingdom, with age-based sections, badge systems, and volunteer-led delivery structurally identical to ZHP. A direct peer operating under the same WOSM umbrella as ZHP.
• Scouts Australia: Australia's national scouting organization providing age-based youth development with sections, badges, and outdoor programs. A direct WOSM peer with similar volunteer-led troop model.
• Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America): The largest national scouting organization in the United States, providing age-based character, leadership, and outdoor programming through volunteer-led troops. Directly comparable to ZHP as a peer national scouting association serving youth via badge systems, ranks, and troop structures.
• Scouts et Guides de France (SGdF): France's primary national scouting and guiding federation, offering co-educational age-based programs under both WAGGGS and WOSM umbrellas. Directly comparable to ZHP as another European national scouting association.
• DPSG (Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg): Germany's largest Catholic scouting association with age-based sections, badges, and volunteer-led troop delivery. Comparable to ZHP as a Central European national scouting organization with similar programmatic structure.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: A US-based network providing after-school youth development, character building, and outdoor programming through local clubs. Comparable to ZHP as a broader youth-development incumbent with member-club delivery model.
• YMCA (World Alliance of YMCAs): A global network of community-based youth-development organizations offering character, fitness, and leadership programs. Comparable to ZHP as a broader incumbent youth organization with overlapping mission and international footprint.

Regional players

• Plast — Ukrainian Scouting: Ukraine's national scouting organization with age-based programs, badges, and volunteer-led troops. A regional peer operating in a neighboring market with comparable youth-development methodology under WOSM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Polish Scouting And Guiding Association (zhp)